Health

Senate HELP Committee to Vote on Obama’s Nominee to Lead the FDA

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will vote on the confirmation of Robert Califf as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration on Jan. 12, according to a release.

The committee questioned Califf during a hearing in November, probing his connections to a research institute at Duke University that conducts clinical trials on new drugs and devices, often in collaboration with drug manufacturers.

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), who is not a member of the HELP committee, lifted his hold on confirming nominees to the Department of Health and Human Services last month after receiving documents and information about the Affordable Care Act’s co-ops he had asked for from the agency. Committee member Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said in a November release that she would block the nomination to fight back against the agency’s approval of genetically-engineered fish. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, has said he would not vote in favor of Califf.

Nonetheless, Califf is expected to be confirmed by the committee and the Senate as a whole.

Morning Consult